Spooler.



A. E. RHOADES.

SPOOLBR. APBLIOATION I'ILED DEC. 8, 1911.

Patented May 14, 1912.

2 BHEBTS-SHBET 1.

filo 01 a I (Q m Wm A. E. RHOADES, SPOOLEB.

- APPIIIUATION FILED DEC. 8, 1911. 1,026,604. Patented'May 14, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO E. RHOADES, 0F I-IOIPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR TO DRAPEB CO1VI- PANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SPOOLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 8, 1911.

Patented May 14:, 1912.

Serial No. 664,606.

chines of the type wherein the Dobbins are suitably supported in a row along each side of the main frame, the thread or yarn leading upward from each bobbin to a reciprocating thread-guide which lays the thread upon the spool, the spools on a side being mounted on a series of rotatable, upright spool-carriers or spindles.

A plurality of thread-guides are mounted on I a horizontal support or traverse-rod which is reciprocated vertically by a suitable traverse motion to lay the threads uponthe spools. Spools vary considerably in length, say from 3 to 7 inches, or thereabout, and the traverse of the thread-guides must be varied to correspond to the length of the spools to be wound. This change of traverse is generally effected by means of change-gears, and the substitution or adjustment of various parts in the traversemotion, requiring a considerable expenditure of time and labor, while gears or other necessary pieces must often be looked up before the desired change can be eflected.

My present invention has for its object the production of a spooler of the type above referred to, so constructed and arranged that the various working parts of the traversemotion necessary to vary the traverse are self-contained, so that by a slight and readily performed adjustment the traverse can be quickly changed for the desired length. of spool tobe wound. I have also provided means whereby a very wide range of trav erse can be accommodated, thus making a given machine capable of handling spools of any usual commercial lengths, from the shortest up to the longest.

Herein I have shown my invention as embodied in a spooler substantially such as forms the subject-matter of United States Patent No. 744,7 97 granted to me November 24, 1903, but as will appear hereinafter the novel traverse motion difi'ers essentially andv in many important details from that shown in the patent.

The traverse motion to be described herein is not restricted in its application tothe particular spooler in connection with which it is illustrated, as will appear, and other novel featuresof my present invention may be used together, or separately, as may be desired.

The various novel features of my invention will be fully described in the subj oined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation, broken out, of a spooler embodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional detail, mainly on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, looking toward the left; Fig. 3 is a detail, partly broken out, of the actuating or traverse cam and the oscillating arm of the traverse motion, with the traverse changing or shifting means on said arm; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, partly in vertical section, of the adjustable connection between the thread-guide support and the corresponding rocker-arm; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a diagram, to be referred to, explanatory of some of the adjustments for changing the traverse.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the main frame A, rotatable spool-carriers B for the spools C, to receive the thread or yarn from the bobbins, the thread-guides D mounted on the supports or traverse-rods E, the depending links F pivotally connecting said rods at r" with the rocker-arms G, and the connected yokes H having their journals 3/ fulcrumed in fixed bearings I, may be and are all substantially of well known construction, and except in certain particulars to be referred to are substantially as in my patent referred to. The journals 3 constitute fulcra for the rockerarms G transverse to the traverse-rods E, and said fulcra are fixed in their position relative to the main frame, as opposed to shiftable fulcra. The bobbin-holders J, of any suitable character, are mounted at opposite sides of the main frame, each series of such bobbin-holders being suitably mounted on a supporting rod K.

The several yokes H. (only two being shown in Fig. 1) are suitably connected to swing in unison by a pivotally connected link L, and this link is reciprocated by the traverse-motion, through a connecting chain M, one end of which is led over and attached to a shoe N of usual construction attached to one of the yokes. Said chain passes over a guide-sheave O swiveled in a bracket carried by the main frame, and a counterweight P is connected by a chain Q to a yoke I-I, said chain being guided by suitable sheaves R.

By comparison with my prior patent it will be seen that the construction above described does not differ essentially therefrom, the taking up and letting off of the chain M rocking the yokes H and causing the rockerarms G to swing up and down in vertical arcs, to thereby effect the vertical reciprocation or traverse of the thread-guides D.

In my present invention the traverse-motion by which the traverse of the thread guides is effected comprehends various novel features, wherein it differs from the usual mangle-motion partly illustrated in my patent, but the gear m Fig. 2, rotated in one direction and then in the opposite direction, and the meshing gear m" mounted to revolve on a stud m on the frame, are the same as in my patent.

Herein the gear m has fixedly connected with it an actuating or traverse cam 1, the shape of which is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the edge of the cam cooperating with a follower 2 mounted on a segmental arm 3, (as herein illustrated) provided with a segmental groove or guideway 4, said arm having fixedly connected with or forming part of ita housing 5. Said housing has an apertured ear 6 to receive a fixed horizontal fulcrum pin 7, carried by a suitable bracket 8 on the frame, the back and forth movement of the cam 1 acting through the follower to oscillate the arm 3 with a constant stroke. A shaft 9 is rotatably mounted in said housing and has at its lower end a worm 10 which projects through a notch 11, in the arm 3, into the guideway 1 and meshes with a segmental rack 12, Figs. 2 and 3, on a traversechanger or shifter, shown as a segmental plate 13 slidable in the guideway and held therein by a cover-plate 14. This shiftable member or plate 13 is moved longitudinally of the traverse arm 3 by rotation of the worm 10 in one or the other direction, and to do this conveniently the upper end of the shaft 9 is provided with a socket 15 for a suitable key by which to rotate it manually.

The plate 13 near its lower end has a laterally projecting stud 16 which extends through a circularly curved slot 17 in the cover-plate, and the slot is an arc of a circle struck from the center of the guide-sheave 0 when the low part of the cam 1 is cooperating with the follower 2. At such time the arm 3 will be in its highest position, and any shifting of the member 13 toward or from the fulcrum of said arm will cause the stud 16 to travel along the circular arc 100100, Fig. 2, and to be equi-distant from the center of the sheave O at all points in such are. The chain N1 is connected to the traverse arm 3 at the stud 16, by a connector adjustable as to its ef fective length, and shown as a flat link 17 having a series of holes 18 into any one of which the stud 16 can be inserted, a cotterpin or like device holding the connector from accidental displacement. In Fig. 2 the stud is in the lowest hole, hence the maximum effective length of the connector is utilized, but the nearer to the upper end of the connector the hole which is used the less will be its effective length, as the chain M is permanently fastened to said connector at its upper end.

If the parts are set as shown in Fig. 2, the oscillation of the arm 3 will act through the transmitting means between said arm and the thread guides D to effect vertical reciprocation or traverse of the latter to lay the thread upon the spools C, and if a somewhat longer spool is used the plate or traverse-changer 13 will be moved manually by the means described, to the left, Figs. 2 and 3, so that the stud 16 will occupy its maximum distance from the fulcrum 7 of the traverse arm. As that shift of the stud from the position shown is comparatively slight no adjustment of the effective length of the connector 17 will be necessary. On the other hand, however, when a very much shorter spool is used and the traverse shifter is moved to bring the stud 16 nearer to the fulcrum of the traverse arm, to shorten the traverse, there'must be an adjustment of the effective length of the connector in order to get the best results, for reasons to be explained more in detail hereinafter. Inasmuch as the adjustment or change of the traverse frequently necessitates a change in the efiective length of the connector, it is also necessary at times to correct the height of the traverse-rod E in order that the stroke of the thread-guides thereon shall be correctly positioned with respect to the length of the spools, and herein is shown a very ready and easily manipulated means for adjusting the height of the said traverse rod to thereby vary the distance of such rod from the pivots W of the links F. The upper end of each one of said links, in accordance with this part of my invention, is provided with an upright undercut groove or guideway 19, the bottom of which is provided with a series of holes 20, see Fig. 1, and in each guideway a block 21 is fitted to slide, each of the blocks having a hub 22 through which the traverse-rod E is extended and clamped by means of a suitable set-screw 23. A spring plunger 21 mounted is fixed and substantially invariable.

sustain the block at a desired distance above the pivot r of that particular link. Each spring plunger or latch 24 is headed at 25, Fig. l, to limit its movement into one of the holes 20. To change the vertical height of the traverse-rod the attendant will withdraw the latch of each block 21 and move the latter up or down in the guideway 19 to the desired position, the released latch snapping back into the opposite hole to retain the block locked in adjusted position. The adjustment thus provided for the traverse-rod can be effected very quickly for the attendant can pass from one to the other of the links setting the block in each one so that the latch enters the proper hole. If, for instance, the third hole from the bottom in each series will give the desired height for the traverse-rod, the attendant will set each block so that the latch thereof snaps into the third hole 20 from the bottom of each series. This obviates set or clamp screws of various kinds, and enables the adjustment to be made with great quickness and perfect accuracy.

The spool carriers or spindles B support the lower ends of the spools at a given height, and this height does not vary under any circumstances, whether the spools are very long or very short, so that the bottom of the traverse stroke of the thread-guidles T e traverse arm 3 has a constant stroke, and as the point of connection between the transmitting means and said arm is shiftable toward and from the fulcrum of the arm the swing of the rocker arms G can be diminished or increased. The nearer the position of the stud ,16 to the fulcrum of the traverse arm, the shorter will be the are through which the free ends of the rocker arms G swing, and the shorter will be the vertical movement or traverse of the thread-guides D and the farther away the said stud is from the fulcrum 7 the greater will be the are through which the rocker arms G swing, and the traverse of the thread-guides will be correspondingly greater. The fulcra y of the said rocker arms are fixed as to their position with relation to the main frame, and in order to secure the best results in spooling the free ends of said rocker arms should traverse vertical arcs bisected by a horizontal line through the several fulcrums.

Let it be assumed that the apparatus is herein shown as set properly for a long traverse and that the thread-guides are shown at mid stroke. Inasmuch as the guideway a of the traverse arm 3 is an arc struck from the axis of the sheave O as a center, it will be apparent that when the traverse arm is at its highest point the connector 17 can be shifted to any point along the arm without causing any movement of the rocker arms G.

In other words, the chain M will not be taken up, nor will it be let off. The heavy broken linelOO, 100, Fig. 2, previously referred to, represents the curved path along which the stud 16 would be moved when the traverse arm is in the highest position, and when said traverse arm is so positioned the rocker arms G w1ll be at the lowest point of their stroke. If now the connector 17 is moved to its extreme inward position on the traverse arm the minimum stroke will be imparted to the rocker arms G.

Referring to the diagram Fig. 6, the rocker arm fulcrum is represented at 7 and the link pivot at 7, and with the maximum traverse, said pivot will move through an are from a to 7), and as shown, this are is bisected by a horizontal line through the fulcrum y. This will give a smooth winding of the thread upon the spool, avoiding any superabundance of yarn at the upper or lower end thereof, because the speed of the pivot 1" from a on the arc to the middle of the are gradually increases, and then gradually decreases to the point F) at the upper end of the stroke. I have indicated the top, bottom and middle positions of the thread guide for the long traverse by broken lines in Fig. 6. Assuming the connector 17 to be moved as far inward as possible, then the traverse will be reduced to the minimum and the low point of any one of the pivots 1"", Fig. 6, will still be positioned at a, but its high point will be say at .7) and the are a, Z) is manifestly not bisected by the horizontal line through '3 consequently the yarn will be laid improperly upon the spool with more yarn near one end than is laid at or near the other end.

The high, low and middle positions of a thread-guide for minimum traverse are shown in Fig. 6, it being evident that the bottom or low position is the same as for the maximum traverse. To correct the position of the are a, b, Fig. 6, the effective length of the connector 17 is reduced by inserting the stud 16 in the proper one of the holes 18, thereby taking up a part of the chain M. This, through the intervening connections, acts to elevate the free ends of the rocker arms G, the proper reduction in effective length of the connector positioning the are a, b, Fig. 6, so that it will be substantially bisected'by the horizontal line through the fulcrum y. I have indicated this on Fig. 6 at (0, b but this correction of the position of the are (which indicates the path of movement of a pivot r" to secure the best winding) will so vary the vertical position of traverse rod E that the threadguides will rise too high, and they will not descend low enough. This error is corrected by the adjustment of the traverse rod upon the links F, as previously described, for by such adjustment the rod is lowered and broughtnearer to the pivots r to such an extent that the thread-guides will assume their proper position at the high, low and mid points of the traverse. The last named correction ofiisets the adjustment of the connector, so far as concerns the proper positioning of the thread-guides for the changed or adjusted traverse, but the correcting or adjustment of the connector is necessary to obviate the winding of a spool containing a non-symmetrical thread mass.

From the detailed explanation given hereinbefore, it will be clear that in changing from a shorter to a longer traverse the effective length of the connector must be increased, and the traverse rod E must then be adjusted upon its supporting links F to increase its distance from the pivot-s r, in order that the thread-guides will assume the proper position at the top, bottom and mid points of the adjusted traverse. When the traverse is to be changed the attendant turns the worm 10 in the proper direction to shorten or lengthen the traverse, as the case may be, the plate 13 being locked in adjusted position by the intermeshing of the rack 12 and the worm, as will be manifest. The manually operated means for changing the traverse is thus self-locking. After adjusting the stud 16 properly with relation to the fulcrum 7 of the traverse arm the effective length of the connector 17 is then increased or diminished, as the case may be, and finally the vertical position of the traverse rods E is adjusted, as has been explained.

Throughout the entire operation it will be observed that no change gears or parts are used, and that the traverse-motion is practically self-contained, thereby saving time and labor whenever a change of traverse is necessary.

Various changes in details of construction, arrangement, and operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth herein and in the annexed claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a spooler, a plurality of threadguides, an elongated support on which they are mounted, rocker-arms having fixed fulera transverse to said support, links pivotally connected with the rocker-arms, a vertically adjustable, rigid connection between each link and said support, whereby the posit-ion of the latter relative to the fulcra of the rocker arms can be changed, an oscillating arm having a fixed fulcrum, a traverse-cam cooperating with said arm to oscillate it with a constant stroke, transmitting means between said arm and the rocker-arms, to swing the latter on their fulcra and thereby effect traverse of the thread-guides, an adjustable connection between said means and the arm, to determine the position of the high and low points of the stroke of the rocker-arms, and means to lock said adjustable connection at difierent points on the oscillating arm, to thereby in crease or diminish the length of the stroke of said rocker-arms.

2. In a spooler, a series of rotatable spoolcarriers, thread-guides, an elongated support on which they are mounted, adjustable means to reciprocate said support vertically and effect traverse of the thread-guides, conforming to the length of the spools, and quick-adjusting connecting means between said thread-guide support and the means for reciprocating it.

3. In a spooler, aseries of rotatable spoolcarriers, thread-guides, an elongated support on which they are mounted, means, including vertically reciprocated members, to ef- :tect traverse of the threadguides, links pivotally connected with said members, and a connection between said thread-guide support and each link and vertically adjustable upon the latter.

4. In a spooler, a series of rotatable spoolcarriers, thread-guides, an elongated support on which they are mounted, means, including vertically reciprocated members, to effect traverse of the thread-guides, upright and longitudinally grooved links pivotally connected with said members, the bottom of each groove having a series of apertures, and a block vertically movable in the groove of each link and having a latch to engage one of the apertures and retain the block in adjusted position, the thread-guide support being fixedly attached to the several blocks, adjustment of the latter on the links varying the height of the threadguides.

5. In a spooler, a series of rotatable spoolcarriers, thread-guides, an elongated support on which they are mounted, means, including vertically reciprocated members, to efiect traverse of the thread-guides, links pivotally connected with said members, a block slidably mounted on each link and rigidly attached to the thread-guide support, and manually controlled means to lock each block in adjusted position on its link.

6. In a spooler, a series of rotatable spoolcarriers, thread-guides, an elongated support on which they are mounted, means, including vertically reciprocated members, to effect traverse of the thread-guides, a plurality of blocks rigldly attached to the said support, a link pivotally connected with each of said vertically reciprocated members, the blocks being slidably mounted on the links, and a manually controlled quick-action locking device between each block and its link, to lock the block in predetermined position thereupon.

7. In a spooler, a series of thread-guides,

- eratively connected with said traverse-rod to reciprocate it, a traverse-motion to rock said rocker-arms and thereby elfect the traverse of said thread-guides, means to vary the stroke of said arms, to accommodate spools of different lengths, and other means to vary the position of the arcs of movement of said rocker-arms, to insure the formation of symmetrical thread masses.

9. In a spooler, a series of fixedly connected and reciprocating thread-guides, a plurality of rocker-arms operatively connected with the thread-guides, a traverse-motion to rock said rocker-arms and thereby effect traverse of the thread-guides, means to Vary the amplitude of movement of said arms according to the length of the spools, and means to adjust the position of the paths of movement of said rocker-arms, to insure the formation of symmetrical thread masses.

10. In a spooler, a series of fixedly connected and reciprocating thread-guides, a plurality of rocker-arms operatively connected with the thread-guides, a traversemotion to rock said rocker-arms and thereby elfect traverse of the thread-guides, means to vary the amplitude of movement of said arms according to the length of the spools, and means to adjust the position of the paths of movement of said rocker-arms, to insure the formation of symmetrical thread masses, combined with manually operated, quickaction means to vary the distance between said thread-guides and the rocker-arms, to properly position the said guides with re spect to the spools to be wound.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALONZO E. RI-IOADES.

Witnesses:

Ossooo B. Es'rABRooK, E. D. Ossooo.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

